He’s wowed judges and audience with his powerhouse vocals, but who is Anton Stephans, we do a little digging to find out a little bit more.
Anton is 45-years-old which makes him the oldest contestant in this year’s series of X Factor. It places him in the overs which gives the smooth toned vocalist a good chance of winning as the previous two winners, Ben Haenow and Sam Bailey have both come from the overs.
He chose the ever so camp song I Am Changing by gay icon Jennifer Hudson. So impressed were the judges by his finals that he winged his way into the finals.
He’s a big of a recycler. In an interview, he said “I’ve not shopped or bought anything new for years. The shirt that I am wearing during Judges’ Houses is one I bought in 1987 in India.”
He’s become known, affectionately, by the other contestants as “Uncle”. He said he’s become a bit of an agony aunt for them… Which he said was “sweet.”
He’s a cancer survivor. He was given just weeks to live after doctors found a rare melanoma, a rare skin cancer. He was given the all clear 18-months-ago after battling for six years with the disease.
He’s sassy… After Simon Cowell criticised him for pulling weird faces Anton said,
“If you’re in an environment… where lots of people have botox, so your face doesn’t move, that becomes your norm. But if you’re a bit poor like me, and your friends are poor and can’t afford botox, your face kind of moves when you speak.”
Cue side-eye.
He’s been a backing singer for the likes of Tina Turner and George Michael and he’s massive fan of the late Luther Vandross.
